Library Workers are the Magic: Developing Leadership Potential at Public Libraries
Public libraries are places where everyone is invited to access information, exercise their imagination, and improve their skills. That’s why it’s so important that public library workers are also given opportunities to develop their own skills—so they can better help patrons do the same.
It makes sense, then, that one of the Public Library Association’s greatest strengths is the great variety of professional development opportunities it offers to help public library workers grow throughout their careers. To continue improving and providing the resources the field needs, PLA enlisted the help of the 2025 cohort of the American Library Association’s (ALA) Emerging Leaders. This group of library professionals did a deep dive into PLA’s career development offerings for members and the public.
To understand the needs of the field and PLA’s unique value proposition to public library workers across the country, participants in this project researched and documented leadership-focused professional development opportunities for public libraries across state associations, regional networks, and system cooperatives. Their overarching goal? Make professional development for public library workers even better.
Their detailed findings can be found on the project website, Developing Tomorrow’s Leaders, which lays out the steps they took to assess current offerings as well as their detailed findings.
Public Libraries Online caught up with the three Emerging Leaders PLA sponsored for the program to explore any surprises they found while working on the project and how it was its own rewarding career development experience for each of them.
“One finding that really surprised me from our project,” said Robin Ballard, Senior Branch Manager at Whitehaven Library in Memphis, Tennessee, “was how many emerging and mid-level public librarians across the country feel unsure about where to even begin their leadership journey.”
Relatedly, Becky Ison, Deputy Director of Access Services at Lake County Public Library in Leadville, Colorado, was surprised by “the large number of people who are unable to participate in professional development (PD) due to time constraints. This information led our group to suggest that PLA focus on advocating for institutions to prioritize PD by building it into institutional culture so that dedicating a percentage of work time specifically for PD would become more a widely utilized practice.”
Ballard continued that “many librarians shared that while they have the passion and potential, they just don’t feel seen or supported, especially in public library spaces where professional development opportunities often focus on top-tier leadership. That surprised me, because it showed how much untapped talent we have sitting right in our branches.”
Natalie Castillo, Senior Adult Librarian at the New York Public Library, said that the research’s results at times surprised her because of “the need for librarians to be more interconnected. ALA offers regional networks for public librarians to network, and of course many librarians are also part of their state associations. Our findings showed that librarians want a stronger foundation of their regional networks to share what works for them, innovative ideas, and problem solve regional issues, like a lack of funding or book bans.”
Similarly, Ballard concluded that it reminded her “that building tomorrow’s leaders means making space today, with tools, mentors, and real access to growth that feels achievable, not out of reach.”
In terms of their own professional growth while they worked on this project for PLA alongside their fellow Emerging Leaders, Ballard noted “that leadership doesn’t always look like the loudest voice in the room; sometimes it’s the one asking the right questions, holding space for others, or offering quiet encouragement behind the scenes. Our group was full of different personalities, perspectives, and lived experiences, and it taught me that collaboration is more than just dividing up the tasks, it’s trusting the process and valuing everyone at the table. We didn’t all think the same and that was the magic.”
Castillo observed that program participants, both the Emerging Leaders themselves as well as the other ALA and PLA staff involved, were often “in different stages of careers, and it’s important to learn and know how people get involved in positions of leadership so that others can follow in their footsteps. Whether it’s joining a committee, continuing education, or joining a leadership program – sharing these opportunities are important for the longevity of this profession.”
Meanwhile, Ison took heart in working alongside other early-career library workers, in particular that they were “all eager to grow our professional networks. I am excited to continue to develop my network, expand my knowledge base, and grow my career by seeking out committee work within ALA and PLA along with my Emerging Leaders 2025 cohort.”
“I saw how powerful it is when people lead in ways that reflect who they are,” Ballard concluded, “and inspire others to do the same with confidence and authenticity. Overall, we collaborated and conquered, while lifting each other up, sharing our strengths, and building something meaningful together!”
ALA’s Emerging Leaders’ program enables newer library workers from across the country to participate in problem-solving work groups, network with peers, gain an inside look into ALA’s structure, and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity. The Public Library Association was thrilled to sponsor three Emerging Leaders in 2025 and is grateful for the group’s thoughtful research presented to the PLA Board of Directors during the ALA Annual Conference.
Tags: ALA Emerging Leaders, interview, interviews, professional development
